We know that we are losing jobs and hours to Non-Union shops.

It’s no secret that Non-Union players have been taking work from us, but one of the ways we have tried to combat this situation is with the Target Fund Program.

Our Union Teammates have stepped up to try and earn more work by making our pricing competitive with Non-Union contractors.

To analyze the success of this program, we have compiled data from 2007-2011 – years in which both Plumbers and Pipefitters have invested significantly to assist contractors win jobs.

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Union Pipefitters have seen some success, especially in a difficult economic environment. Over a period the targeted period they were able to, win 251 bids, and lose 198 bids when target funds had been applied.

Union Plumbers lost 245 bids, winning 140.

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Overall, 443 projects that should have been ours, and more than 50 projects were lost in 2011 alone. More strikingly, we lost 527,890 hours of work to Non-Union shops. That’s the equivalent of more than 250 Union jobs.

Not only would adding more jobs and working more hours help our friends who are out of work, it would also help ease the stress on our pension programs. Losing 527,890 hours of work over five years means that our Union Pension Funds have lost more than $2,000,000.